Juanita

Female Mixed Breed

Approx. 1 year, 4 months, 3 weeks old

Animal ID: #144538

A little bit about me

Juanita is looking for a forever home

What's special about me

At present she is living with a chocolate lab, Charlie and a rough haired Jack Russell, Dougie and she gets on very well with both of them. Juanita is full of fun and loves to play, especially "catch me if you can" with her friend, Dougie.
She is getting used to walking on the lead, but still is a little timid. She is very good off the lead and stays with her playmates, Dougie and Charlie. She enjoys racing around, but always keeps an eye on you and comes back.
Juanita can have some separation anxiety when left, and can get into rubbish bins and chews tissues. She is fully house-trained.
Juanita is a lovely dog, so affectionate and will make a great companion. She also wants to be close and cuddles up on the sofa. She likes to meet and greet people and other dogs. She has a healthy appetite and eats mainly biscuits.
Juanita is not used to young children and finds them stressful. It would be ideal if she had another dog to keep her company as she has been used to being with dogs in her foster home. She also needs lots of exercise and it would be best if she lived with someone who would be with her most of the time.
Juanita is currently in a foster home. Please contact the centre to arrange meeting her.

1. Can you care for a companion animal for their whole life?

The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years but some dogs and cats can live even 20 years or more!

If you want to adopt a companion animal for your children, consider that children can tire quickly of the routine of caring for the animal. Parents often quickly become the animal’s primary caregiver and need to be OK with that. Therefore, adding a new animal family member must be a family decision and a family responsibility.

If you are planning to move to another country or travel in the future, it might not be the right time to adopt an animal. However, it is possible to move country with your animal, and also to manage travel so that your animal is well cared for when you are away. Moving and travel are situations that can be managed, but this can be expensive and needs careful consideration and planning.

2. Can you afford to have the companion animal you are considering adopting?

All animals available for adoption from the SPCA have been health checked, desexed, vaccinated, and microchipped (for details see each adoption listing, as the exact details can vary by species); all of these are included in the adoption fee. However, there are also ongoing costs associated with having a companion animal.

Veterinary visits and treatments due to illness or accidents, and preventative care

Fees for boarding or home care for your animal if you need to go away

Doggy Day care fees if you have to be away from your dog for long periods

Training classes for puppies and dogs

Annual registration fees for dogs (this is a legal requirement)

Grooming expenses

The cost of things that your animal might damage or that might suffer wear and tear, such as shoes, TV remote controls, books, couches, carpets, etc.

To help you get an idea of the cost of keeping a companion animal, the NZ Companion Animal Council has published data showing that companion animal owners spend on average the following amounts per year:

$670 on their cat

$1200 on their dog (larger dogs can be more expensive)

$785 on their horse

$310 on their rabbit

However, depending on an animal’s individual needs these costs could be significantly higher.

3. Are you able to care for the companion animal you are considering adopting?

It is your responsibility to know how to properly care for your animals; the Animal Welfare Act 1999 states that “the owner of an animal, and every person in charge of an animal, must ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of the animal are met in a manner that is in accordance with both good practice and scientific knowledge.”

We can give advice on how to care for companion animals and help with any questions you might have. Your veterinarian is another source of credible and helpful information about caring for animals.

Doing your research before you decide to adopt an animal will help you to make a good and informed choice about whether you can care for an animal and what animal would be most suitable.

It is important that you are able to set aside adequate time to feed, exercise, groom, and interact with/play with your companion animal for their entire lifetime.

4. Is your home suitable for the companion animal you are considering adopting?

The size of your home and garden and the location of your home are significant factors that determine how suitable your home is for a particular animal. For example, dogs need a safe fenced section, shelter, shade, and enough space outside in which to exercise, explore, and play. If you are thinking of adopting a cat and letting the cat outside, then you need to consider that cats can get injured on roads or affect local wildlife. Rabbits and guinea pigs need space inside, or a fenced area outside, in which to exercise, explore, and play.

Some landlords do not allow their tenants to have animals. This means that having a companion animal can affect how easy it is to find a rental property and is something that you should consider if you are renting.

If you already have companion animals, it is very important that you consider them, and how they will adapt to a new arrival, when thinking of adding another animal to your family.

5. Will a companion animal fit into your lifestyle?

Long working hours, a busy social life, and regular trips away are all factors that will influence whether your lifestyle is suitable to share with a companion animal, and also what kind of animal might be best suited to you. It is important to consider these factors before deciding to adopt.

All companion animals need human company and if you don’t spend enough time with them this can make them unhappy and seriously affect their quality of life.

You should not adopt a companion animal unless you are:

home often enough to keep your animal company (or have someone else at home to keep the animal company)

prepared to walk your dog every day (if you are thinking of adopting a dog)

able to give your animal the basic training they need

able to arrange suitable care for your animal when you are away

If you have carefully thought through all of the questions above and your answer to all of the questions is ‘YES’, then you are ready to adopt!

If you said ‘no’ to any of the questions above or are unsure, please consider what you would need to do to ensure you are well prepared to become a responsible companion animal owner.

Watch this space for your next update! And thanks again for your support, it’s what keeps us going.

Ngā mihi nui
The SPCA New Zealand Team

How to adopt Juanita

1. Come and meet me in person

Come and view our dogs any time during adoption hours. If you are interested in adopting a particular dog or puppy please call ahead to schedule a meet and greet appointment with our team. This ensures you have plenty of time to get to know the dog, especially during our busy periods, as we do prioritise appointments.

If you have questions about a dog or puppy before you come to the centre, just use the form on their profile to send us an enquiry.

2. Talk to our SPCA animal experts

Our friendly animal team will help you choose the pet that’s right for you – it might not be me after all. They will discuss your lifestyle, experience level and what you’re looking for. They’ll check you tick all the boxes for adoption and introduce you to some of the animals that are right for you and your lifestyle. Bring everyone who lives in the house (especially any children) to come and meet the animals to ensure the best match for your family.

Please come in well before the centre closes and allow plenty of time for your visit. And don’t feel down hearted if you are unable to find your ‘perfect match’ straight away. It may take several visits before you find the right animal for you, but don’t give up – your forever companion will be well worth the wait!

3. Complete the application form

You are welcome to view the dogs in the adoption area. Before meeting any of our dogs in person, you’ll need to fill in an application form and provide us with photo ID. One of our team will then introduce you to some of the dogs or puppies that could be right for you.

To save time during your visit you can download and complete the first page of the application form below before you come to the centre.

4. Introduce your family

Found your new best friend? The next step is introducing them to your existing family – everyone in the family, including your existing dog(s) must meet the new dog prior to adoption.

5. Property check

We will then arrange a time to complete a property check to ensure your home is fully fenced and has suitable space for the dog. We do not rehome dogs to be kept on chains or running wires. You will need a fully fenced property to keep your dog contained. If you are a renter, we will also need proof from either your landlord or property manager that they give permission to have a dog on the property.

6. Sign up

It’s time to make it official. We’ll just need you to sign up and pay the adoption fee and get ready to bring your new buddy home.

7. Register

Some of our centres include registration with the local council in their fees, but others don’t so you will need to register your new dog with the council before you can take them home.

Questions?

Thank you for your interest in adopting an animal from SPCA.

Please note: Animals for adoption cannot be 'wait-listed' for individuals. If you are looking to adopt a particular animal, please call the centre listed on their ad to see if they are still available, or visit the centre in person.